Crawler to base frame connection

Abstract

The base frame of a crawler truck for cranes or similar heavy equipment is provided on at least two opposite sides with projecting heavy attachment plates which coact with support structures projecting in an opposite direction from the side frames of self-contained crawler assemblies requiring attachment to the truck base frame. The side projecting structures of the crawler frames include permanent upper mounting pins and lower mounting openings. The upper pins rest within seating notches formed in the heavy attachment plates of the truck base frame and the lower mounting openings receive reciprocatory lower mounting and locking pins of the crawler assemblies, which pins are connected with power-actuators on the crawler assemblies. Safety latches prevent premature withdrawal of the lower pins from their mounting and locking positions. Awkward and tedious alignment problems are avoided.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a crawler truck arrangement for heavy equipment, a base frame having opposite long sides and opposite short ends for the selective attachment of crawler assemblies thereto, spaced mounting members fixed to said opposite long sides and short ends of the base frame and having upper pin seating recesses and lower locking pin openings, coacting interfitting mounting members fixed to interior sides of the crawler assemblies and having upper permanent mounting pins adapted to enter said seating recesses and being supported therein and also having lower locking pin openings movable into registration with the first-named locking pin openings, a guide sleeve member on one side of the mounting member of the crawler assembly coaxially aligned with each lower locking pin opening of such member, lower mounting and locking pins disposed at the interior sides of said crawler assemblies parallel to the longitudinal axes thereof and being insertable through the guide sleeves and locking pin openings of the mounting members when such openings are in registration, and a pivoted safety latch element on said sleeve including a projecting nose engageable behind the rear end of the lower locking pin to block premature withdrawal of such pins and means to releasably lock the latch element in its active latching position relative to the lower locking pin, and power means on said crawler assemblies to operate said lower mounting and locking pins, whereby each crawler assembly and associated mounting members, mounting pins, locking pins and power means may be attached as a unit to a selected long side or short end of the base frame. 
     
     
       2. In a crawler truck arrangement for heavy equipment as defined in claim 1, and said power means comprising reciprocatory power cylinders coupled with the lower mounting and locking pins coaxially to extend and retract such pins. 
     
     
       3. In a crawler truck arrangement for heavy equipment as defined in claim 1, and said lower mounting and locking pins on each crawler assembly being in opposing coaxial relationship and across the interfitting mounting members of said base frame and crawler assemblies. 
     
     
       4. In a crawler truck arrangement for heavy equipment as defined in claim 3, and said mounting members of the base frame and crawler assemblies being vertically disposed and across the longitudinal axes of the crawler assemblies and projecting outwardly and inwardly respectively from the base frame and crawler assemblies. 
     
     
       5. In a crawler truck arrangement for heavy equipment as defined in claim 4, and said mounting members of the base frame comprising vertical plates and the coacting interfitting mounting members of the crawler assemblies comprising pairs of spaced parallel vertical plates adapted to straddle the base frame vertical plates, said upper permanent mounting pins being fixed to and extending between the spaced parallel vertical plates of said pairs.